The 26-year old was involved in an acrimonious departure from St James' Park after high-profile bust-ups with manager Graeme Souness and Alan Shearer last season. And the fans turned against him later in the season for one thing or another.
But personally I don't think we are a better team without him, and I think he would be the perfect foil for Michael Owen when Alan Shearer calls it a day in the summer.
Mark Hughes has got himself a class performer, and he certainly doesn't seem to be having any off-the field problems with him that Souness had. Good management? You tell me.
Instead we have Albert Luque, who has yet to get out of the blocks ... never mind score! And how can we forget Souness saying: "Kieron Dyer will always score more goals than Bellamy"?
The Welshman has been troubled by a hamstring twinge in the past fortnight, and has nothing to prove on Tyneside - according to Hughes, his former boss with Wales.
"Craig has proved a point already," said Hughes.
"He went to Celtic and was a success there.
"He has come to us and been an impact player and a success in the short time so far.
"He is a young man just getting on with his football. There is nothing I could criticise him for in his time here; I think Craig has moved on, and other people have moved on."